Saturday Night Live Sketch Mocks Obama’s Executive Action Concerning Immigration

We don't often see a Saturday Night Live skit critical of President Obama, but what we saw this weekend was about as on the nose as you can get on a comedy show.

Saturday's opening segment started out as a recreation of the classic "I'm Just A Bill" song from School House Rock, in which Bill (Kenan Thompson) tries to explain to a young boy how legislation is supposed to be passed.

As Thompson begins to sing about the legislative process, President Obama (Jay Pharoah) appears and pushes him down the steps of Congress, then introduces his friend, Executive Order (Bobby Moynihan).

"I'm an executive order," Moynihan sings, "and I pretty much just happen."

Moynihan thinks his job is something simple like creating a national park or establishing a holiday, but expresses shock when the President explains what he's actually meant to do.

"Oh my God," Moynihan exclaim. "I didn't have time to read myself. Woah!"

At one point, Thompson struggles back up the stairs and says, "Look at the midterm elections. People clearly don't want this." He is then pushed again.

While President Obama hasn't actually signed an executive order, he is taking executive action. Last week, Obama directed the Department of Homeland Security to expand programs that defer the deportation of undocumented immigrants, an action that may shield as many as 5 million illegal immigrants and their families.

The President has argued that both Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush acted in a similar fashion, thus setting a precedent. Republicans in Congress disagree, and some have warned that some states may take legal action if they feel that the President's policy places an unfair burden on them.